Still time left to help rebuild wetlands with Christmas trees

Published: Monday, January 21, 2008 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at 11:02 a.m.

HOUMA -- The Barataria Terrebonne National Estuary Program is hosting two more Christmas tree marsh reconstruction projects, one this Saturday, and on Feb 9.

The program is calling for volunteers and shallow draft boats to help place thousands of Christmas trees into shoreline fences located in Goose Bayou, east of the town of Jean Lafitte.

“This is also an excellent outreach program. It’s a way for families to actively participate in saving Louisiana’s wetlands,” said Scott Angelle, secretary of the Department of Natural Resources.

National Estuary Program volunteers are working on this project in conjunction with the Jefferson Parish Department of Environmental Affairs, and is paid for in part by a $53,000 grant from the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources.

The fences, constructed to hold Christmas trees in place, form a wave barrier that helps to protect the eroding marsh behind them.

Throughout the years, the state has used more than 1.6 million trees to bolster the coast.

Registration is required, and volunteers will meet in Lafitte at Cochiara’s Marina, 4477 Jean Lafitte Boulevard at 8 a.m.

To sign up for this program, call the BTNEP office at (800) 259-0869, or e-mail Mel Landry, program volunteer coordinator, at mel@btnep.org. Registration is also possible through the estuary program’s volunteer Web site, http://volunteer.btnep.org, and by contacting the Jefferson Parish Department of Environmental Affairs at 504-736-6440.

<p>HOUMA -- The Barataria Terrebonne National Estuary Program is hosting two more Christmas tree marsh reconstruction projects, one this Saturday, and on Feb 9.</p><p>The program is calling for volunteers and shallow draft boats to help place thousands of Christmas trees into shoreline fences located in Goose Bayou, east of the town of Jean Lafitte.</p><p>This is also an excellent outreach program. It’s a way for families to actively participate in saving Louisiana’s wetlands, said Scott Angelle, secretary of the Department of Natural Resources.</p><p>National Estuary Program volunteers are working on this project in conjunction with the Jefferson Parish Department of Environmental Affairs, and is paid for in part by a $53,000 grant from the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources.</p><p>The fences, constructed to hold Christmas trees in place, form a wave barrier that helps to protect the eroding marsh behind them.</p><p>Throughout the years, the state has used more than 1.6 million trees to bolster the coast.</p><p>Registration is required, and volunteers will meet in Lafitte at Cochiara’s Marina, 4477 Jean Lafitte Boulevard at 8 a.m. </p><p>To sign up for this program, call the BTNEP office at (800) 259-0869, or e-mail Mel Landry, program volunteer coordinator, at mel@btnep.org. Registration is also possible through the estuary program’s volunteer Web site, http://volunteer.btnep.org, and by contacting the Jefferson Parish Department of Environmental Affairs at 504-736-6440.</p>